By: Sharon Boyles
Most people know better than to leave their pup in the car in the summertime heat, but many pet owners don’t think about it, and hundreds of pets either succumb to heatstroke or are rescued from hot cars each year.
When it’s super hot outside, the temperature inside a parked car can climb to 140 degrees in less than one hour. The common practice of leaving the windows cracked open doesn’t help much. The inside of a vehicle in even 70-degree weather can reach 100 degrees in just 20 minutes, so even if the windows are cracked, it doesn’t make a whole lot of difference. A quick trip into a store for “just a minute” could turn out to be deadly for your pup.
More than 30 states have laws to prevent people from leaving their animals unattended in vehicles under dangerous conditions and some states, including Ohio, provide some kind of civil immunity for people who rescue an animal in distress. The Buckeye State doesn’t have any laws against leaving a dog in a hot car, but this action can be considered animal cruelty under ORC 959.131, and you can face animal cruelty charges if someone reports you or if the police are called to rescue the dog.
Regardless of breed, size, or coat length, all dogs are susceptible to heatstroke, and some brachycephalic dogs (such as pugs and bulldogs) may be more sensitive to high heat and humidity. Owners of these types of dogs should take extra care when traveling with them.
If you see a dog in a parked car on a hot day and the animal appears to be in distress (excessive panting, lethargy, vomiting, foaming at the mouth, muscle tremors), it’s important to take action. But what kind of action? And what about liability and damages? According to Ohio law, if you take certain steps to rescue an animal in clear distress, you are considered immune from civil liability. These steps are:
(1) Determine that the vehicle is locked or there is otherwise no reasonable method for the animal to exit the vehicle.
(2) Have a good faith belief that forcible entry into the vehicle is necessary because the animal is in imminent danger of suffering harm (injury or death) if not immediately removed from the vehicle and, based upon the circumstances known to the person at the time, the belief is a reasonable one.
(3) Make a good faith effort to contact the local law enforcement agency, the fire department, or a 9-1-1 operator prior to forcibly entering the vehicle. If contact is not possible prior to forcibly entering the vehicle, the person shall make contact as soon as possible after forcibly entering the vehicle.
(4) Make a good faith effort to place a notice on the vehicle’s windshield with the person’s contact information, the reason the entry was made, the location of the animal, and the fact that the authorities have been notified.
(5) Remain with the animal in a safe location until law enforcement or emergency responders arrive.
(6) Use not more force to enter the vehicle and remove the animal from the vehicle than was necessary under the circumstances.
To help keep everyone safe, it’s best to leave your pup at home on hot days, especially if you’re going to be away for several hours. If this isn’t possible, then bring fresh, cool water along so your pup can stay hydrated, and have another person with you to keep the car AC on or fans running in the car while you’re doing your shopping. Keep your hot dog cool!